Wheel pants, Where from?

Bruce Perry · Post by **Bruce Perry** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 6:48 pm

Gentlemen,

I own a '50 A model, it has the 180 gear legs and the cleveland brakes. I am interested in putting Pants on it. I expect that the original pants are going to be hard to find in good shape. Aside from asthetics would the 172 pants fit? Or what are the alternatives?

To sum up, what type of pants fit? What type of issues may arise during the installation?

My main reason(s) are: performance, pretty.

Bruce

If this was recently discussed please excuse me.

Post by **GAHorn** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 7:09 pm

Original pants ARE going to be hard to find,...and expensive....but can be done. With non original gear legs, are you sure you want that?
Reproduction (looks like original) are available from Aircraft Spruce. 877-477-4823
They should be no more difficult to install than any others, except that new repro pants will be made of fiberglass and will likely require minor fitting. You will also need backing/mounting plates/hardware.

Other styles of pants are also available, and many products they handle can be viewed on their website if you don't have their free catalog. http://www.aircraftspruce.com/

Bruce Perry · Post by **Bruce Perry** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 7:16 pm

Great!

Thanks for the assistance. I'll check out the site.

B

JJH55 · Post by **JJH55** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 8:28 pm

Bruce, I think you will find the brackets (inboard side) for the wheel pants are more difficult to find than the pants. They will require some fitting to clear the calipers on the clevelands. Alot of fitting if you have the double pucks. Also the axle nuts to accomodate the pants can be challenging as well. Cessna made many of these nuts with varying lengths of extension to bolt the pant to and invariably the one you locate will be the wrong one.
JJH55

zero.one.victor · Post by **zero.one.victor** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 6:08 am

Be advised,in some circles "wheel pants" are also known as "panties". Do not be surprised if derogatory references to said "panties" are made.

Eric

doug8082a · Post by **doug8082a** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 2:39 pm

Pantie - Shmantie... Mine are going on when I get it painted in the spring. To have said "panties" and not put them on would make one a "pantie-waste" and I couldn't live with that moniker.

On with the "panties"!

Post by **GAHorn** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:51 pm

Airplanes are usually named after women. The only woman I ever knew that didn't wear panties couldn't be trusted.

N1478D · Post by **N1478D** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 5:22 pm

Those who choose not to wear their panties are usually of a faster breed and more entertaining! Still remember a young one who at work had to get thru a crowd at the bottom of the stairs, her desk was on the second floor. She had such a nice smile.

Curtis Brown · Post by **Curtis Brown** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 5:07 pm

I am going to the paint shop next week and I am taking her panties with me. She has been going with out them for years. It seems to me that once she get a new dress she has have matching panties to go with them.
Curtis

AR Dave · Post by **AR Dave** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 11:22 pm

So we have 170A's & B's, male or female?
That's kinda the way I was lookin at it anyway!

170B - Male

Post by **GAHorn** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 3:01 am

AR...we even have one guy (170C) who has an O-300-D in a so-called C-model. I guess that makes him AC-DC?

wa4jr · Post by **wa4jr** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 5:02 am

I just got around to taking the panties off my 54 170 today in preparation for ice and snow. Before I took the panties off, I did a speed check 2450 rpm at 3000'. I saw 118 MPH indicated. I took the panties off and went up again on the same run. I saw 118 MPH indicated. I think the panties are going to stay off. Makes servicing the tires much easier, don't have to worry about hitting the panties with the ladder during fueling, and I don't have to worry about muck getting up inside the panties. Now I just have to get a set of those cool "retro" design tires and shine them up with Armorall and I'll be ready for Airventure next year

Curtis Brown · Post by **Curtis Brown** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 5:41 pm

I just got my panties back on the other day in preparation to go to the paint shop. After flying it, I indicated around 118 and 120 MPH @2450 RPM and 2000 MSL. I recall indicating 115 to 118 without.
However, I did notice a little vibration. I looked down at the left wheelpant and it was buffitting a bit. Is there anything I can do about that?
Curtis

Post by **GAHorn** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 7:38 pm

Cessna called them "Streamlines" in their marketing and equipment listings/invoices. They are called "fairings" in the IPC. The IPC is not especially helpful in mounting information, nor are several of Cessna's marketing photos. A well-publicised photo of an A model in front of the Cessna Factory actually has them mounted too far aft. Most of the marketing photos, and all the air-borne photos I've seen had them mounted correctly, which makes them almost look pointed nose-down.
The originals are sometimes mounted tilted too far back. I guess some folks think that's how they're supposed to be. They apparently believe the lower edge should be parallel to the fuselage rather than the ground. Not so.
The lower edge of the streamlines/fairings should be parallel to the ground when in the 3-point attitude. The upper surface of them are curved aft/downward and do not present increased area to the relative wind if they are properly mounted.
If they are mounted tilted backwards, the lower edge will behave as a scoop and collect relative wind when in flight and add drag.
How are yours mounted, Curtis?

Curtis Brown · Post by **Curtis Brown** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 8:29 pm

They appear to be mounted parallel to the ground in the 3 point. But the left is buffitting ever so slightly causing the gear leg to move vibrate up and down. It is difficult to notice unless in smooth air. It would be nice to tune it out. I have no idea how to tune it out.